The Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu allows us to walk through Andean scenery that speaks to us with their calm silence and allows us to meet the intact culture of the Andean region. If you prefer to enjoy nature and have contact with local people, this is an interesting trekking alternative. During the trek, we will see stunning lagoons, and we will greet the local people and children who come out to greet us. We will be surprised by the cultural manifestations visiting beautiful towns and from the highest point at more than 4450 meters above sea level, we will have dazzling views over the Andes. We will arrive at Machu Picchu town one day before our visit to Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel that astounds more and more, every day.
Around 6 in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel to head to the village of Lares, where we will begin our trek. During the journey, we will make a stop in the village of Calca, where you can visit the local market and buy breakfast or any other supplies you may need. Your guide will advise you to buy bread to give to the children we will encounter during our hike. When we arrive in Lares, we will visit the hot springs where you can enjoy the warm water while our cooks prepare a delicious lunch. After lunch, we will start our hike towards our first campsite in Huacawasi (3600m/11811f). For 3 hours, we will gradually hike uphill, which will prepare you for the next day when we reach the highest peak of this trek. We will spend the first night in the house of our horsemen who will accompany us on this journey. It’s a great opportunity to get to know this small town and its Andean culture better. When we arrive, our tents will be ready, and you will be treated to popcorn, sweets, and hot tea before dinner.
You can rest in one of the typical houses.
The Art of Andean Weaving
The local tradition of weaving in the Andes dates back several generations. Numerous indigenous communities in the region, such as the Huacawasi, have preserved their knowledge and weaving techniques, as well as their ancient style. Weaving is done in a traditional way using tools consisting of 2 bars and a line that passes between these bars. The local people obtain wool from llamas to make their traditional clothing. The wool is woven and then colored with natural materials like flowers. Each community is distinguished by its own colors and designs that represent their daily activities.
We will spend the afternoon with the women of the local community who will teach us the secrets of weaving, from shearing the llamas to making clothes. This will be a great opportunity to buy a handmade local souvenir from your trip to Peru.
Early in the morning, we will be greeted by local children in traditional clothing on their way to school. After a nutritious breakfast, we will start our hike towards the highest point, the Sacsayllame Gorge at 4400m or 14435 feet in altitude. The hike will be 4 hours and quite steep. An emergency horse will accompany us to ensure everyone reaches the top. During this hike, you can catch glimpses of the massive mountains, a mosaic of farmland, and magnificent landscapes. We will reach high altitudes where it will be very cold. After reaching the highest point, we will descend and arrive at a beautiful lagoon before having lunch by the river. You can rest while our cooks prepare a delicious lunch. After lunch, we will descend through a forest where you can see the “Queuñas” (Polylepis), a typical tree of Peru. This walk will last for 1 hour before we reach our campsite in Miski Unu (3550m/11646f). A wonderful place in the midst of nature where you will have hot tea and a snack upon arrival before dinner.
Today will be another spectacular day as we descend through different forests. You can enjoy the rich biodiversity and changing fauna and flora during these 3 hours of hiking, which will end in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Be aware of the large number of mosquitoes in the forest. We will enjoy our last lunch in Queshuarchalloc, where we will say goodbye to our horsemen and cooks. After lunch, we will take a local bus to Ollantaytambo. We will visit this beautiful living Inca town before having dinner at a local restaurant. At 7 pm, we will take the train to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in a hostel or hotel.
We will leave the hotel after breakfast at 5:30 am towards Machu Picchu (2400m/7874f) by tourist bus. We will arrive at the citadel around 6:00 am. After a guided tour of the citadel, including information about the life and culture of the Incas, we will leave Aguas Calientes by train at 2:55 pm or 6:10 pm. In the meantime, you can have lunch at one of the pleasant restaurants. You can also visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes to relax a bit.
| Service | Travelers | Prices (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Group | 1 person | US$ 590.00 |
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Cusco
Moderate difficulty
Total distance 3 Km
Maximum altitude 5.200 m
Up to 16 people
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Cusco
Moderate difficulty
Total distance 2 Km
Maximum altitude 4.900 m
Up to 16 people
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Cusco
Moderate difficulty
Total distance 2 Km
Maximum altitude 4.200 m
Up to 16 people
Daily departures
Cusco
Moderate to high difficulty
Total distance 62 Km
Maximum altitude 3.050 m
Up to 12 people
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